[escolubtessen]

I dont know how you can compare BTRDA event and club rally on Epynt to Messers Loeb, Ogier, Latvala, Hirvonen etc.

And there are people on the forum that pay wayyyy more for seeing the top drivers. Of course travelling adds up, but still - go!

[Khcyhshq]

Others may feel that paying those sums for top level rallying is worth it. I don't. I don't earn a lot of money so choose to spend carefully, hence why I look at what I get for my money. Although the top level drivers are spectacularly quick it is, at the end of the day, a handful of cars through 2 stages. This requires me to either get up extremely early (which I'm not good at) or travel up the night before and kip in the car. I also have to pay a lot of money to do this. Add in the fact that it's a Sunday, when the rally could well be all but over and a number of the top drivers will be out (hardly a rare occurence this season), and I'm really not convinced that I want to spend my money on it.

What it all boils down to is 'will I enjoy 2 stages of Rally GB that much more than I enjoy 4 stages on the Wyedean'. The answer, quite simply, is probably not. Simples.

[Khcyhshq]

And there are people on the forum that pay wayyyy more for seeing the top drivers. Of course travelling adds up, but still - go!

I'd rather save my money to do sprints and hillclimbs next season.

[Zpxbawtz]

What is the point of organasing a special stage with no access to public? Especially if that is Power Stage.

[MinisuipGaicai]

You have my sympathy Barry.....the Quinton on Epynt was £10 for 2 runs of 150 odd cars....
I know it's a World Championship, but it's not F1 or football.....£20 is quite a lot for a minority sport.

However the top WRC/ S2000/Juniors guys are really on it......a completely different level - it's the rest who plod along....

[Podborodok]

Others may feel that paying those sums for top level rallying is worth it. I don't. I don't earn a lot of money so choose to spend carefully, hence why I look at what I get for my money. Although the top level drivers are spectacularly quick it is, at the end of the day, a handful of cars through 2 stages. This requires me to either get up extremely early (which I'm not good at) or travel up the night before and kip in the car. I also have to pay a lot of money to do this. Add in the fact that it's a Sunday, when the rally could well be all but over and a number of the top drivers will be out (hardly a rare occurence this season), and I'm really not convinced that I want to spend my money on it.

What it all boils down to is 'will I enjoy 2 stages of Rally GB that much more than I enjoy 4 stages on the Wyedean'. The answer, quite simply, is probably not. Simples.

I agree with you totally. The top few (probably 7 on WRGB this year i.e works cars and Petter) will be awesome and on a different planet speed wise, but after that with the exception of a handfull of the SWRC boys it's not much more thrill factor than a BTRDA rally. I'd rather watch Andy Burton go round all day than your Matt Wilsons, Hennings and Raikkonens. Plus, i'm happy to give £10 per car for a BTRDA round because it goes to local charities which keeps the locals happy that the rally is running. I wouldn't pay £10 to watch a BRC round though.......now very boring! I think £10 per person would be a good price for Rally GB, or £30 per car which would give it eco-credentials for limiting CO2 and all that balls!

Anyway, for the last few years i've bought OS maps and planned a route in by either camping or finding a local carpark, and then walking. It's all legal, even if the forests are offically closed (this info can be found on the CRoW website) the public rights of way i.e. Public Footpaths are not affected, and no body has any grounds on which to stop you providing you keep to the footpaths, under the 'Right to Roam Act'. Well we've just been out for a walk in the forest after all

It takes a bit of planning, but if you can be bothered it'll save you alot of money, and I'm sad and love looking at maps anyway. Last year we watched Friday and Saturday's stages and didn't pay a penny, and we were well within our rights to do so too. I'm not sure about the 'Southern' stages though, never tried them as i'm further North.

...and if anyone wants to call me a tight wad, then screw them because the money i'll pay over a year to the Forestry Commision to rally more than covers it!

[carpartsho]

I understand you guys have a different viewpoint on what is exspensive. Even for the rally is Australia this year we had to travel and spend a bit. Beats being in a plane for 24 hours!

But at the end of the day it's up to you guys, personally I think the new WRC cars are worth the £20 or whatever the cost is.

[Khcyhshq]

The cars are what tempt me, they look great fun. However I can take the £70 fuel and £20 ticket and put that towards entry fees for a hillclimb next year. Given the choice between competing and spectating...well it's a no-brainer isn't it.

[kavaTeexy]

Back to Clocaenog or Gt Orme, having seen the stages in Clocaenog and where has been cleared there will be a great atmosphere and at one location almost an amphitheatre effect, should be great in the dark...can you tell i'm excited !! haha

[MinisuipGaicai]

Yeah, looking forward to Clocaenog - only shame they didn't include Brenig/Alwen and another stage in Clocaenog....

[Podborodok]

Yeah, looking forward to Clocaenog - only shame they didn't include Brenig/Alwen and another stage in Clocaenog....

I 2nd that! I think there are stages where Burton could be quicker than the WRC's, he knows the stages i north/mid wales. Considering his time in Radnor was only 17s down on Loeb last year, even after a spin which Rob said cost them 10s.

I'm sure N.O.T will tell us we are patriotic idiots, and that Andy Burton is a cheat, and he only set a decent time because he airlifted his car halfway through the stage were there were no marshalls, and then strapped a gas turbine engine on the back for the last 4.5km of straight road.....and at the same time the Citroen boys were chatting up Margaret Thatcher and Loeb convinced her to co-drive, because Hirvonen was too slow to beat in a straight fight so he felt sorry for him, so all Lady Thatcher had to do was check the tyre pressures. At the time Kris Meeke was pushing to his limit, but was overtaken by a Lada Samara driven by Stephen Hawking which proved Meeke was rubbish.


I wonder how Rally GB will unfold?

[FsQGF1Mp]

I 2nd that! I think there are stages where Burton could be quicker than the WRC's, he knows the stages i north/mid wales. Considering his time in Radnor was only 17s down on Loeb last year, even after a spin which Rob said cost them 10s.

I'm sure N.O.T will tell us we are patriotic idiots, and that Andy Burton is a cheat, and he only set a decent time because he airlifted his car halfway through the stage were there were no marshalls, and then strapped a gas turbine engine on the back for the last 4.5km of straight road.....and at the same time the Citroen boys were chatting up Margaret Thatcher and Loeb convinced her to co-drive, because Hirvonen was too slow to beat in a straight fight so he felt sorry for him, so all Lady Thatcher had to do was check the tyre pressures. At the time Kris Meeke was pushing to his limit, but was overtaken by a Lada Samara driven by Stephen Hawking which proved Meeke was rubbish.


I wonder how Rally GB will unfold?

i actually like Mr Burton and his prototype...and he can sure beat the lesser WRCs driven by 5 year plans.

[accotMask17]

Mikko better win this at all costs another 2009 would be too painful.

[carpartsho]

The cars are what tempt me, they look great fun. However I can take the £70 fuel and £20 ticket and put that towards entry fees for a hillclimb next year. Given the choice between competing and spectating...well it's a no-brainer isn't it.

Yeah WRC :P But if you're competing then thats understandable

[euylvaygdq]

The top few (probably 7 on WRGB this year i.e works cars and Petter) will be awesome and on a different planet speed wise, but after that with the exception of a handfull of the SWRC boys it's not much more thrill factor than a BTRDA rally. I'd rather watch Andy Burton go round all day than your Matt Wilsons, Hennings and Raikkonens.

Do not insult Henning! He is one of the most spectacular drivers on gravel and you should not put him on the same list with Räikkönen and Wilson.

[uchetrip]

Do not insult Henning! He is one of the most spectacular drivers on gravel and you should not put him on the same list with Räikkönen and Wilson.

agree with that. it is not the same that a driver is slow and not spectacular to watch. also wilson is quite spectacular to watch in the stages, epsecially GB. he uses some more old techniques, but ok he is moving a LOT slower than the sebs and the fords

[kuzbaslachek]

Anyway, for the last few years i've bought OS maps and planned a route in by either camping or finding a local carpark, and then walking. It's all legal, even if the forests are offically closed (this info can be found on the CRoW website) the public rights of way i.e. Public Footpaths are not affected, and no body has any grounds on which to stop you providing you keep to the footpaths, under the 'Right to Roam Act'. Well we've just been out for a walk in the forest after all

It takes a bit of planning, but if you can be bothered it'll save you alot of money, and I'm sad and love looking at maps anyway. Last year we watched Friday and Saturday's stages and didn't pay a penny, and we were well within our rights to do so too. I'm not sure about the 'Southern' stages though, never tried them as i'm further North.

Up to a point I'd agree with that, but finding somewhere to park the car that isn't 10 miles away is a problem on several stages. I don't mind getting there early to make sure I arrive in time, but I'm less keen on walking back for hours across deserted footpaths in the pitch black!

[Bgfbukpf]

What is the point of organasing a special stage with no access to public? Especially if that is Power Stage.

The Power Stage is open to those with World Rally Passes.

Still, I don't believe Monument/Gwibedog is the right choice for the Power Stage, even more so when the stage is cut short so the best sections aren't even being used! Personally I think the Route 60 section of Halfway should be the Power Stage, it's an absolute travesty that section has been cut out, it's the best stage in the UK!

[swwatch]

also wilson is quite spectacular to watch in the stages, epsecially GB. he uses some more old techniques, but ok he is moving a LOT slower than the sebs and the fords

Well, actually, I suspect the reason Wilson is spectacular to watch is slightly different from the others. Whereas Latvala goes rather sideways because it's his preferred style, Wilson will be a bit too sideways because he's not entirely in control, which adds the excitement of a possible crash..

Last year I sat at a downhill hairpin right after a cattle grid on Halfway. And because of the nature of the road it was a lot easier than usual to see the different styles of the drivers. Every single driver except for Loeb, Latvala and Petter backed off a little across the cattle grid, but most of them where consistent under braking. Even Ken Block. The only one who couldn't find a proper braking point on the downhill hairpin was Wilson, stabbing at his brake pedal, much like a hysterical valium addicted housewife stabbing the next door neighbors poodle with a chopstick, after finding a little "present" on her lawn. The first time i thought he had a brake issue, but he was the same on the repeat run later in the day. Yes, it was spectacular, but only because he looked so unstable.

Saying that. He's not crashed much lately has he?

[gugamotina]

Paddon with STI/ Symtech Subaru R4 for Wales Rally GB.

http://haydenpaddon.com/news?news=65